A sport, business and culture phenomenon all in one, ‘His Airness’ Michael Jordan was born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1963 and was set to change the face of basketball forever.
Often called ‘Air Jordan’ for his gravity-defying jumps, Jordan was initially drafted by the Chicago Bulls in 1984. That same year, he won the first of his two Olympic gold medals for the USA.
His career soared in the 1990s, and as a 6-time NBA champion and 5-time NBA Most Valuable Player, he is often credited with popularising basketball worldwide.
Although Jordan wore a couple of different jersey numbers early in his career, he soon became synonymous with 23, which was so heavily attached to his presence on court that even the Miami Heat, a team he never played for, retired the number in 2003.
This jersey, featuring the classic Chicago Bulls red, white and black, is on display at QOSM’s Hall of Athletes, and was worn by Jordan during the 1989-90 NBA competition season.